Jackson Raceway

Jackson, Michigan

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No Action at Jackson !

Jackson Raceway

Jackson Raceway was a five half mile harness track located at the
Jackson Fairgrounds, a few blocks north of the town of Jackson. It had an
open air grandstand, used primarily for summer racing. The grandstand
could seat 6,500. There was parking for
1,000 cars. The track featured the Sulky Lounge which could accommodate
100 diners. There was no clubhouse.

Night Racing in Jackson

Jackson Raceway
opened for business in 1948, it was the first pari mutual track in
Michigan outside the greater Detroit area. The small harness track
located at the Jackson Fairgrounds became a success and prospered
through the seventies.

Like many other small town tracks, Jackson
Raceway started to struggle by the nineteen nineties. Handle and
attendance were declining yearly and the future didn't look too bright
but in 2005 there was hope that things would change.

Shortly after the
turn of the century it was a given that casino gaming was a lock in
Michigan, race tracks across the state were preparing and Jackson was in
the hunt. Feeling curtain that gaming was coming Jackson Raceway was
taken over by MTR Gaming giving new hope the track would survive.

The Frosty Boy

As predicted casino gaming was legalized in Michigan, unfortunately for the
race tracks they didn't invited to the table, racinos were not part of
the plan. Soon after that was known MTR Gaming threw in the towel and
closed the raceway. The small track with the county fair atmosphere just
faded away.

I did make one visit to Jackson, I was curious
to see it because for a few years some stables showed up at my home
track of Hinsdale. It was a warm June evening and it seemed like I could
have been at Hinsdale, Jackson was also a half mile oval with minor
league racing which featured a lot of local talent. On the way back to
the Interstate I remember stopping at the Frosty Boy for a bite to eat
and a soft serve.